Chapter 1708: Experience
Having returned to his room long before the other classes had let out, Vahn had been practicing his Shinsu control in accordance with the method demonstrated by Laure. This involved imagining the Shinsu as a massive sphere of water that formed around a mental image of yourself, accounting for both physical appearance and body position. From there, you would compress the sphere within your mind, and, assuming you held the image successfully, a Baang of Shinsu would begin to form in the exact same spot you had imagined it.
Though Vahn could effectively ignore the need for this exercise due to the existence of his domain, he couldn't deny there was merit in learning the 'proper' method. It seemed that the Shinsu on the Floors actually worked to compress his domain, so, the more he expanded it, the greater the strain on his body, mind, and spirit. This wasn't that much of an issue if he stayed put, but, the moment he began moving through the Shinsu field, the resistance against him would increase exponentially like a drag force.
Fortunately, there were few people who could compete with him when it came to mental imaging and perceiving the surrounding space. Vahn knew the purpose of the exercise was simply to create a mental awareness of the Shinsu in your surroundings, but, unlike most people, he already knew 'everything' was just an amalgamation of some kind of energy. He had also spent a fair amount of time as a literal God of Space, Time, and Creation, so, rather than his original nine golden spheres of Shinsu, Vahn had practically turned the interior of his room into an observatory. There were more than a thousand bluish-white dots of various sizes gently pulsating in his surroundings, each acting in accordance to his intent.
While it wasn't really suitable for combat, at least in its current state, Vahn could essentially create as many Baangs of Shinsu as he wanted. It took time to form each individual sphere, but, from the moment it had taken shape, Vahn could easily maintain each of the spheres due to his inordinately precise control. He was someone who could literally account for the trillions of cells that made up a person's body, so, when it came to something like visualizing the placement of a thousand baangs, well, there was really no comparing the two at all...
Opening his eyes slowly and methodically, Vahn took in his surroundings for the first time since he had started his training. This caused a few of the baangs to twinkle, nearly collapsing, but, with no other forces acting upon them, they were ultimately able to remain stable. Fortunately, even if a few did collapse, he wouldn't need to worry about a chain reaction due to the propensity of the Shinsu to simply pop like a bubble before vanishing into thin air.
Satisfied with the result he had achieved, Vahn decided to conduct one final test before moving to the commissary to grab a bite to eat. This was obviously unnecessary, but, in order to successfully reinforce the image he was trying to create, establishing a baseline for others' expectations was one of the most important steps.
Without moving a single muscle, Vahn expanded his domain like a bubble, enveloping the spheres of Shinsu before they had the chance to destabilize. They immediately turned golden in response to the invisible field generated by his domain, and, though the Shinsu contained within didn't increase, their golden luminance gave off the impression they were far more powerful than normal baangs...
---
With Rachel asking if they could talk in private, Phae followed the young woman until they arrived in a vacant corridor. She was honestly a little curious about what kind of scheme the toxic woman was cooking up within her mind. The moment Rachel revealed her true nature was the exact same moment all her plans went up in smoke. Vahn, and, by proxy, Phae, and Gandr, might not be willing to punish someone who had yet to commit a crime, but, the moment they caught someone in the act, they would not hesitate to pass judgment.
Unfortunately, it seemed like Rachel's current objective was merely trying to ingratiate herself to others, turning to face Phae with a 'starstruck' expression, smiling radiantly as she said, "Ms. Phae really is amazing. Not only are you beautiful, but your skill and talent would be enough to make even the descendants of the Ten Great Families green with envy. If I had even a tenth of your talent, I think I could reach the top of the Tower without issue...how unfortunate..."
Though she started off similar to a bubbly fangirl, Rachel quickly adopted a melancholic expression towards the end of her statement. There was a genuine listlessness in her eyes, and, though it didn't change much, there was a very small ripple across her ever-steady aura. Immediately after that, she did her best to put on an apologetic smile as she emulated Phae's action of combing through her bangs and saying, "Sorry...I just..."
Shattering whatever expectations Rachel might have had, Phae just giggled lightly in response to her little act before musing, "You might be lacking in other departments, but your acting skill is top-notch. With a few simple touch-ups and a bit of exercise, you could easily become a pop-star or an actress with skill like that~."
Showing both practiced and genuine confusion in her expression, Rachel tilted her head slightly as she asked, "What do you mean, Ms. Phae? I don't understand..."
Pulling out Da Vinci's patented reaper smile, Phae sent shivers through Rachel's body as she lightly squinted her eyes and remarked, "Young lady, you might be able to fool normal people, but you are far from the point of being able to trick a member of the Imperial Court. I have dealt with schemers, corrupt nobles, and literal villains for hundreds of years. I've even encountered a literal Goddess of Trickery, someone who had lived for hundreds-of-millions-of-years. Your skills are undoubtedly very impressive, but you are far too inexperienced to play this game with someone like me."
With her face gradually paling in spite of her unwaveringly calm aura, Rachel continued pretending she had no idea what Phae was talking about. Tears began to well up in her eyes, and, after what seemed like an inordinate amount of effort, she was able to sobbingly reply, "I don't understand...I just wanted to ask for your advice...everyone seems to look up to you...I thought you would be nice to me as well..."
Realizing she was dealing with quite the sociopath, Phae's smile faded away completely, replaced by a serious expression as she said, "If you want to make friends, the only thing you ever needed to do was show sincerity. The reason people shun you is that there are times when you drop your little act without realizing it. This causes people to feel uncomfortable around you because, here in the Tower, everyone 'expects' others to betray them. You also put a half-hearted effort into everything you do, convincing yourself you lack talent so you refuse to even try..."
Showing instantaneous anger in response to Phae's words, Rachel was about to scream at the top of her lungs before a gloved hang silenced her with a resounding slap. This was enough to instantly change the character she was playing, but, for a very brief moment, Phae noticed the woman's aura had become darker than pitch. It was like her aura had become a black hole, swallowing everything in its surroundings and causing the world to appear ever-so-slightly darker.
Though she was tempted to slap the malice out of the woman, Phae's expression actually softened a little as she calmly stated, "Stop blaming everyone else for your shortcomings. I once knew a guy who had absolutely no talent in the sword, but, after hundreds of years of tireless effort, he reached a point where he could, quite literally, cut through the concepts. You might lack talent, but, so long as you apply yourself, there are no limits to your growth. You could become as strong and beautiful as you like, you just refuse to put in the effort. Instead, you blame the world and the people around you for things that have absolutely nothing to do with them, all while disdaining anyone who would 'dare' treat you in a similar manner..."
Despite the harshness of her words, Phae maintained a motherly smile and a gentle tone during the entirety of her speech. She genuinely wanted to stop Rachel from doing something she was bound to regret, so, before the venomous woman could retort, Phae pulled out what appeared to be a tiny jade marble, explaining, "This is a rare medicine known as the [Flawless Jade Pill]. Purchase a mat or something from the commissary and then lay it out on your bedroom floor. After that, remove your clothes and then ingest this pill. It will cause you some discomfort, but this medicine has the ability to remove the impurities in a person's body. Once the process is completed, you will be covered in a foul-smelling liquid, but, once it has been wiped away, your skin will be as smooth as jade. I want you to take it and reflect on everything I told you today. If you are serious about reaching the stars, stop slithering around like a green-eyed snake eager to strike anyone you perceive as being more fortunate than yourself..."
Since Rachel hadn't accepted the pill, Phae punctuated her words by tossing it directly at the young woman. After that, she turned around without another word, an exhausted sigh escaping her lips as she left the woman to brood alone within the darkening corridor...
---
Though they had already finished their meals, most of the Scout candidates chose to remain in the commissary. Their task of making ten friends limited them to just one other Scout candidate, so, in order to complete their objective by the end of the week, they needed to convince Regulars in the other classes to put down their names.
Noticing members of the other classes beginning to file in, several of the Scouts seated around the table immediately rose to their feet in order to intercept the migrating group. Gandr, Shibisu, and Hatsu, however, just stayed in place, as, if the previous days were any indicator, it was only a matter of time before their usual group congregated gathered.
Even without Hatsu shifting his gaze with a troubled expression on his face, the subtle twitching of Gandr's ears indicated that he was well-aware of the situation. As a result, he easily tilted his head to the side, evading the attempt to touch his ears. Immediately after that, his body seemed to fall through the bench, sinking into the floor and vanishing in an instant.
Clicking her tongue, Endorsi began looking around the area for where Gandr would reappear. At this point, she was absolutely determined to pet the young Vanargandr's head. Her instincts told her that his ears were very soft, and, though it was a little annoying to be evaded so easily, Endorsi actually found the boy's 'bashful' behavior rather cute.
Just as she began to consider ways to bait the boy into allowing her to touch his ears, Endorsi was surprised when two hands suddenly appeared from the ground, grasping her ankles. She felt a very strange sensation spread through her body, almost like her awareness had increased exponentially, but, before she could make sense of this, Endorsi soon found herself immersed up to her hips in the ground...
After recovering from the initial shock, an exceptionally flustered look appeared on Endorsi's face as she looked up at the boy now towering over her, shouting, "You fluffy-eared rascal! If you don't get me out of the floor this instant, I swear you'll regret it for the rest of your life! Don't make me break out of here by force...!"
Though she could easily emerge from the ground, the commissary was one of the few places they were strictly told never to damage. There was a heavy penalty for damaging the facility, so, with only 2,418 points to her name, Endorsi was hesitant to break free.
Before helping the Princess escape her confines, Gandr squated down just beyond her natural reach to say, "Touching someone without their permission is never okay. Besides, a Vanargandr's ears and tail are the most sensitive spots on their body, places we only allow close family, those we sincerely respect, and those we love to touch. Touching our ears without permission would be the human equivalent of randomly groping someone's chest or butt, so, unless you can honestly tell me you wouldn't be bothered by people randomly fondling your breasts, you need to stop."
Seeing the surprisingly severe expression on Gandr's face, Endorsi suddenly felt uncharacteristically sheepish. Her first instinct was to rebut him but it was surprisingly difficult to muster the courage to argue when you were half-buried in the ground. She could also understand the boy's reasoning, so, after several seconds of ever-growing tension, she ultimately released a sigh and said, "Fine. I won't try to touch your ears without permission anymore. Now, get me out of this damned floor before I blow a gasket."
Though he got the distinct impression Endorsi hadn't truly given up, Gandr still extended his hand to help her out of the ground. This involved infusing his sword intent into her body and activating the State of Nothingness, an advanced version of the process used to prevent him from becoming naked whenever he activated the ability. This effectively relegated Endorsi to the status of his sword for a brief moment, a rather amusing thought that caused a smile to spread across Gandr's face as he resisted the urge to create sword beams using her body...
(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Vahn is a monster even when he is nerfed...','Phae don't play','In the hands of a Grandmaster, anything can be a sword (UwU)...')
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Chapter 1709: Conflict
Though Endorsi was pulled from the ground without much difficulty, there was still a perfect mold of everything below her waist left in the commissary's ground. This included a flawless impression of her butt and another, more intimate, region, so, shortly after being liberated, Endorsi ended up destroying a large section of the floor before anyone else could see it.
Despite having forcibly calmed herself moments prior, Endorsi immediately glared at the person responsible, her face redder than an apple as she exclaimed, "I swear! I'll make you pay for this you cheeky little furball...!"
Realizing he had probably overstepped his bounds, failing to account for the fact that Endorsi was wearing form-fitting tights and thin silk bottoms, Gandr didn't hesitate to lower his head, his voice sincere as he stated, "Sorry. I shouldn't have resorted to such an extreme method. I'll make sure the Admins know this event is entirely my fault."
Not expecting the usually boisterous brat to suddenly apologize in such a solemn manner, Endorsi felt as if all the wind had been taken out of her sails. She even began to feel a little guilty due to the fact his ears were drooping slightly...
Holding her head, Endorsi released an exasperated sigh, all the anger draining from her body as she said, "Yeah, yeah, apology accepted. I know I'm also at fault so we'll split the bill, okay? I don't want people to start accusing me of bullying mischievous brats."
With that said, Endorsi began making her way over to the section of the cafeteria where you could order a variety of hand-made foods and fresh produce. After five steps, however, she turned her head back and added, "Save me a seat. I refuse to sit at the end of the table like yesterday..."
Though he was tempted to leave the second-furthest seat open for her, Gandr knew Endorsi would pout if he didn't empty one of the spaces next to him. One of these positions was reserved for a certain green-skinned Princess, so, after offering a wry smile and seeing Endorsi on her way, Gandr turned his attention to Shibisu.
Without requiring an explanation, Shibisu just grinned back at Gandr before making enough space for Endorsi to sit down. At the same time, however, he went out of his way to teasingly remark, "It seems like we have a real Casanova in our midst. Anak is going to be jealous when she sees-"
Interrupting Shibisu's comment, Anak, seemingly appearing out of thin air from the perspective of many, asking, "When she sees what?"
Feeling like the Grim Reaper had just appeared behind him, sweat began to pour down Shibisu's face as he turned his head in a robotic fashion. There, nearly matching his gaze perfectly despite the fact he was sitting down, Anak could be seen glowering at him with an unamused expression on her face.
Deciding to place Shibisu in his debt by throwing the man a bone, Gandr offered a disarming smile as he asserted, "Phae baked a mountain of cookies and told me to share them with my friends. They have to sign this paper first. Here, I saved the first spot for you."
Though it wasn't immediate, Anak eventually stopped glaring daggers at Shibisu before shifting her attention to the piece of paper with a doubtful look on her face, asking, "What is this?"
Reacting with a wide smile, Gandr happily explained, "This is a special assignment that was given to all the Scout candidates. We were told to make ten friends by the end of the week. Though it might be a little bold of me, I'd like to think we're already friends. It would make me happy if you were the first person to sign my sheet."
Hearing Gandr's explanation, Anak couldn't help but furrow her brows. Her mind compelled her to refute his claim but the words wouldn't leave her mouth. Gandr and Phae had both treated her very well, and, though she still felt like they were hiding something, they also helped smooth things out between her and the other Regulars.
Similar to when she was glaring at Shibisu, Anak hesitated for a few seconds before accepting the piece of paper and plainly remarking, "I don't have a pen..."
Without missing a beat, Gandr produced a rather fancy-looking pen out of thin air, presenting it to the conflicted-looking Princess with a toothy grin.
Eager to be over and done with the awkwardness of this situation, Anak quickly signed her name in bold letters at the top of Gandr's friend list. Her letters even bled over into some of the other boxes a little, loudly asserting itself on the page.
Though he was tempted to tease her a bit, Gandr could tell Anak was swiftly reaching her tolerance threshold. She likely had a bad day during Fisherman training, so, after finishing her meal, she was bound to return to her room in order to decompress.
Realizing that Endorsi's presence was bound to exacerbate Anak's condition, Gandr accepted the piece of paper from her hands before adopting a genial smile and suggesting, "You should head back to your room if you're feeling tired. I'll either convince Phae to bring you some food or I can bring it myself after I grab the cookies from my room. We still have twenty-nine days of classes so don't overexert yourself..."
Furrowing her brows at Gandr's suggestion, Anak shifted her attention to the cooking station where Endorsi was waiting to receive her food. She might not be the smartest person in the room, but she wasn't an idiot. The crater on the ground wasn't exactly discreet so it wasn't difficult to understand what was going on after accounting for Shibisu's words and actions.
With her hands forming into tiny fists, a rather dangerous aura began to emanate from Anak's body as she shakily asked, "Are you trying to get rid of me...?"
Hearing Anak's words, it was Gandr's turn to frown, his tone becoming firm as he said, "Never think that, not even for a moment. I know you have a difficult time trusting me, but you should have also realized that my concerns are genuine. Come, even if you want to beat me up later, I think it is best that you get some rest. I'll take you to my room to pick up the cookies and then escort you back to your room. Shibisu can explain the situation to Phae when she arrives."
Though her anger began to gradually fade, Anak didn't stop glaring at Gandr, or, more specifically, his outstretched hand. She got the impression he was treating her like a child, but, just as he had previously stated, she could also tell he was actually concerned about her. This caused her a great deal of confusion, her expression gradually morphing into one of conflict until Gandr directly took her by the hand and pulled her away...
---
Well aware of the incidents occurring within the commissary, Phae altered her course to intercept Gandr and Anak. The rooms were pretty spaced out from each other but they were still in the same long corridor, so, by pretending to return to her room, it was a simple matter to cross paths with the duo.
As if he was surprised by her presence, Gandr's ears perked up when he 'noticed' Phae at the far end of the long hallway. Then, while pulling along the surprisingly obedient Anak, he waved his hand, calling out, "Heeeeeey! Phae, over here! I need to talk with you!"
With her palm just about to open the biometric lock on her door, Phae showed her own version of surprise as she shifted her attention to the duo, smiling as she said, "My, this is a pleasant surprise. Did the two of you have fun during your first day of class~?"
Having reached Phae's side in a relatively short period of time, a massive grin spread across Gandr's face as he answered, "I had a blast! I played tag against the instructor and was almost able to catch him a few times!"
Chuckling in response to Gandr's words, Phae reached out her hand to gently caress his head as she mused, "It sounds like you will do just fine..." before shifting her attention to Anak, her voice suddenly sounding worried as she tentatively inquired, "Anak? Are you feeling unwell...?"
Raising her head, Anak stared directly at Phae, her expression turning serious as she said, "Tell me the truth. Why are the two of you so nice to me? It doesn't make any sense...!"
Following her sudden outburst, Anak pulled her hand free from Gandr, adding, "And I told you not to touch me! If I was a normal girl, you would have yanked my arm out of its socket! Show some restraint you stupid jerk!"
Feeling awkward to have the same words he said to Endorsi thrown back at him, Gandr was unable to prevent his ears from flattening as he averted his eyes. At the same time, Phae shook her head in exasperation, a sigh escaping her lips as she said, "You're letting your anger cloud your judgment, Anak. Hurtful things said in the heat of the moment hurt even more so when the passions have died down. Come, I'll answer all the questions you have. Gandr, I want you to go to your room and think about what you've done. I'll let you know when you can come out."
Since he really did want to reflect on his actions, Gandr nodded his head in understanding before dragging his feet to the opposite end of the hall. Men and women had separate residences due to the Tower incorporating a communal bathing system. Though there were private baths, it required you to pay points to gain access to them. The only exception to this rule was if you were one of the many races who required a special grooming station. Then, so long as you formalized a request to the Test Administrators, they would allow you access to the special baths tailored for your specific needs...
After watching Gandr walk away with a sullen expression on his face, Anak's own began to show visible conflict. Then, after turning back to face Phae, a sour feeling spread through her nose as she saw the worry and concern hidden visible within the woman's gentle blue eyes.
Seeing Anak's face scrunch up, Phae offered the kindest smile she could manage before extending her hand to the girl and softly stating, "Let's go...even if you don't want to talk, I will stay with you until you calm down. Tomorrow, I'll help you apologize to Gandr. Don't worry, he isn't the type to lay blame on others. He might be a little mischievous at times, but he is a caring boy..."
Though she didn't like being pat or pulled around by someone like Gandr, Anak had developed a weakness against the woman standing before her. Phae had always treated her kindly, and, when everyone else was blaming her for the failure of the Crown Game, she was the person to treat her wounds, carry her body, and fix her clothes. She also helped style her hair, and, though she always defaulted back to her pixie-bob cut, Anak enjoyed the feeling of being doted upon...
Forcing back the urge to sniffle, Anak ultimately reached out, grasping Phae's hand with her own and allowing the woman to gently guide her the remaining distance to her room. It might be a little silly, as her room was only a few meters away, but Anak always felt a little better whenever she was around Phae. If not for the strange feeling she got whenever she was around the kindly duo, Anak felt like she might have even been able to open up to her. There were a lot of things she wanted to talk about, but, after experiencing the loss of her mother, Anak had always felt like the world was a cold and dark place...a place filled with countless people who would not hesitate to kill her just for being born...
(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'That's quite the impression~','Gandr seems to be following in his Master's footsteps...','*Sad Cucumber Noises*')
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